Modular card processing system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A card processing system used to produce information bearing cards comprising:
- (a) a system controller means for transferring information to and from card processing module means;
(b) a plurality of said card processing module means for processing said cards and for sequentially transferring cards through said card processing module means;
(e) said system controller means including;
(i) communication means including buffer means for storing messages for transmission to said card processing module means and for storing messages received from said card processing module means;
(ii) means for transfer card data into said buffer means for transmission to said card processing module means;
(f) each of said card processing module means including;
(i) communication means including buffer means for storing messages from said system controller means and for storing messages for transmission to said system controller;
(ii) local processor means for generating control signal for controlling processing means;
(iii) processor memory means for storing said card data during processing;
(iv) processing means responsive to said control signals for processing card data stored in said processor memory means onto said cards;
(v) memory transfer means for loading card data from said buffer means into said processor memory means.
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Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
Standardized card processing modules are mechanically and electrically interconnected to form an application specific card personalization machine. A controller is coupled to a communication bus which permits the controller to download card data to the card processing modules and to upload status information from the card processing modules. Each one of the card processing modules performs a different encoding or personalization function under the control of a local processor.
236 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A card processing system used to produce information bearing cards comprising:
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(a) a system controller means for transferring information to and from card processing module means; (b) a plurality of said card processing module means for processing said cards and for sequentially transferring cards through said card processing module means; (e) said system controller means including; (i) communication means including buffer means for storing messages for transmission to said card processing module means and for storing messages received from said card processing module means; (ii) means for transfer card data into said buffer means for transmission to said card processing module means; (f) each of said card processing module means including; (i) communication means including buffer means for storing messages from said system controller means and for storing messages for transmission to said system controller; (ii) local processor means for generating control signal for controlling processing means; (iii) processor memory means for storing said card data during processing; (iv) processing means responsive to said control signals for processing card data stored in said processor memory means onto said cards; (v) memory transfer means for loading card data from said buffer means into said processor memory means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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3. A card processing system in accordance with claim 3, further including output hopper module means for storing cards processed by the card processing modules.
- 11. A card processing system used to encode card data onto cards, comprising a system controller and a plurality of card processing modules which can be assembled in an arbitrary sequence to perform application specific card processing functions, each of said modules including a common mechanical interface means for mechanically interconnecting said modules, a common electrical power bus interface means for electrically interconnecting said modules so as to provide power to said modules, and common communications bus interface means for electrically interconnecting said modules so as to enable communication with said system controller.
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19. A card processing module for processing card data onto a plastic card, comprising:
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a module chassis having left and right sides, said left side conforming to said right side so as to enable alignment of a series of like modules, said module chassis including a transverse central air plenum; a card processing mechanism for processing data onto said cards, said card processing mechanism is mounted on a top surface of said module chassis; a card transport mechanism including an inlet and an outlet, said inlet having means for entering said cards into said card processing mechanism from a previous module, said outlet having means for exiting processed cards from said card processing mechanism, said inlet and outlet being aligned so as to permit unobstructed flow of cards through a card path established by arranging a series of like modules; an electric bus interface for supplying power to said module including a power distribution circuit board; a communication bus interface for sending or receiving control signals to and from a system controller; module control means for receiving, storing, and transmitting data to and from said system controller; and logic control means for interpreting control signals from said system controller.
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20. A card processing module for processing card data onto a plastic card, comprising:
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a module chassis; a card processing mechanism for processing data onto said cards; a card transport mechanism; an electric bus interface for supplying power to said module; a communication bus interface for sending or receiving control signals to and from a system controller; module control means for receiving, storing, and transmitting data to and from said system controller, said module control means comprising; (a) a communication process means including means for storing data and including means for transmitting and receiving data to and from the external system controller and including means for transmitting and receiving data internally directly from said means for storing data; (b) a module process means including means for transmitting and receiving data to and from said communication processor means and including means for generating control signals; (c) a card process means including means for receiving control signals from said module processor means and including card processing means and including a means for transferring a card; and logic control means for interpreting control signals from said system controller, said logic control means comprising a module processor means including means for receiving commands and data from the external system controller and including means for interpreting said commands to determine what function to perform and including means for generating appropriate control signals for said card processing means and including means for storing the status for said module means and including means for transmitting said status to said external system controller.
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21. A card processing system used to produce information bearing cards comprising:
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(a) logic control system means for interfacing an operator to the rest of said car processing system including means for further coordinating the operation of said card processing system; (b) data input means for receiving commands from said logic control system means and including means for accessing said card data from a variety of external data storage device means; (c) a plurality of card processing module means for processing said cards; (d) production control system means for receiving commands from said logic control system means and including means for accessing said card data from a system data storage device means and including means for further coordinating the operation of said card processing module means.
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22. A method for producing information bearing cards from a logic control system means and a data input means and a production control system means and a plurality of card processing module means which are electrically and logically and mechanically connected, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) said logic control system means initializing the bus interface and serial controller and bus of said production control system means and of said card processing module means; (b) said logic control system means configuring said production control system means and said card processing module means to correctly produce finished cards with the attributes selected by an operator; (c) said production control system means controlling the processing of cards in said card processing module means.
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23. A card processing system used to encode card data onto cards, comprising a system controller, a plurality of card processing modules of different types connected by a common communications means, a plurality of common process control commands and a common response protocol, where said system controller sends any number of said plurality of process control commands to any number of said plurality of card processing modules without regard for the type of the said card processing module, and each of said card processing modules sends a response to said system controller using the same said response protocol.
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24. A card processing system used to encode card data onto cards, comprising a system controller and a plurality of card processing modules which can be assembled in an arbitrary sequence to perform application specific card processing functions, each of said modules including a common process control interface means for logically controlling said modules, where said process control interface means consists of a modular dynamic linked library means.
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25. A card processing system used to encode card data onto cards, comprising a system controller, a plurality of card processing modules of different types connected by a common communications means, process control means for said modules to automatically send module type information to said system controller through said common communications means upon power-up or reset, and process control means for said system controller to automatically receive said type information from said communications means upon said module power-up or reset.
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26. A modular chassis for supporting card processing equipment;
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a generally I-shaped support frame; corresponding alignment means for aligning the modular chassis, the alignment means including cooperating alignment tabs and slots, the tabs being receivable in the slots; apertures for insertion therethrough of threaded fasteners; and a central air plenum extending through a mid-portion of the modular chassis.
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Specification